Summary
holding that under New York law, an insurer has a right of subrogation against a co-defendant against whom the insured has cross-claims
Summary of this case from Olin Corp. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am.Opinion
February 17, 1998
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Franco, J.).
Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Nassau County, for the entry of a judgment declaring that the plaintiff is not obligated to indemnify its insured in the underlying action pending in the State of Georgia.
The appellant insured, Toys R Us, Inc., a defendant in the underlying negligence action, did not obtain the consent of its insurer, the plaintiff Aetna Casualty Surety Company (hereinafter Aetna), prior to settling that action, as required by the policy of insurance. The appellant also failed to preserve Aetna's subrogation rights when it executed an unlimited and unreserved release in favor of the plaintiff, its codefendants, and its primary insurer in the underlying negligence action. The appellant also failed to show that Aetna was not prejudiced thereby. Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court properly granted Aetna's motion for summary judgment ( see, Weinberg v. Transamerica Ins. Co., 62 N.Y.2d 379; Matter of State Farm Fire Cas. Co. v. Zyburo, 215 A.D.2d 566; Royal Zenith Corp. v. New York Mar. Mgrs., 192 A.D.2d 390; Matter of Aetna Cas. Sur. Co. v. Scirica, 170 A.D.2d 448).
In light of our determination, we need not reach the appellant's remaining contentions.
Miller, J.P., Sullivan, Pizzuto and Florio, JJ., concur.